Latest news with #VHA
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Which US States Have the Highest Risk of Dementia?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Your risk of developing dementia may be more closely tied to your ZIP code than you think, according to a large-scale study of U.S. military veterans aged 65 and older. Analyzing health data from over 1.2 million veterans who received care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) between 1999 and 2021, researchers found that where someone lives can significantly influence their chances of developing dementia—even after accounting for age, race, heart disease, diabetes, and whether they lived in rural or urban areas. The study revealed stark regional differences. Veterans living in the Southeast faced the highest risk, with dementia rates 25 percent higher than those living in the Mid-Atlantic, the region with the lowest rates. Other high-risk areas included the Northwest and Rocky Mountains, where dementia risk was 23 percent higher than in the Mid-Atlantic. The South, Southwest and South Atlantic also showed elevated rates. The researchers measured how many new cases of dementia were diagnosed each year per 1,000 people. In the Southeast, that number was 14 cases per 1,000 person-years, while in the Mid-Atlantic it dropped to just 11.2. Even after adjusting for factors like demographics, rurality and cardiovascular conditions, the regional patterns remained consistent. "The study underscores the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of region-specific prevention and intervention efforts," said senior author Dr. Kristine Yaffe, also of the San Francisco VA Health Care System, in a statement. What Might Be Driving the Regional Differences? Researchers explored why dementia rates varied so widely across regions, and several key factors may help explain the gap. Although health, age, and environment clearly play a role, the data showed that geographic location remained a strong predictor even after accounting for those variables, suggesting there's more going on beneath the surface. Potential Factors Influencing Dementia Risk: Education: Lower educational attainment was more common in regions with higher dementia rates. Health Conditions: Chronic illnesses such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity were more prevalent in higher-risk areas like the Southeast. Lifestyle and Environment: Smoking and other regional lifestyle patterns may contribute. Access and Quality of Health Care: While the VHA generally offers more equal care across regions, differences in resources and specialty care at individual VA centers may affect how—and whether—dementia is diagnosed. Diagnosis Practices: Studies using Medicare data suggest that how often and how well dementia is diagnosed can vary, not just because of patient health but also due to how local health systems operate. Hidden Variables: Some important influences—such as quality of early-life education or early signs of cognitive decline not captured in health records—may not show up in administrative data but could still drive long-term risk. A stock image of a doctor visiting a senior man to check his health. A stock image of a doctor visiting a senior man to check his health. Photodjo/iStock / Getty Images Plus All-in-all, the study makes one thing clear: location matters. While individual lifestyle choices and genetics remain important, where you live could shape your brain health more than previously understood. These findings underscore the need for more localized research and targeted interventions, especially in regions facing higher dementia burdens. Understanding why dementia hits harder in some areas than others is essential—not only for treating the disease but also for preventing it in the first place. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about dementia? Let us know via science@ Reference Dintica, C. S., Bahorik, A. L., Xia, F., Boscardin, J., & Yaffe, K. (2025). Regional differences in dementia incidence among US veterans. JAMA Neurology.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC cites ‘one-state, one-unit' rule, allows VHA to withdraw plea for HI membership
Nagpur: Vidarbha Hockey Association's (VHA) last ditch effort to get recognized as an associate-member of the national body 'Hockey India' was on Monday rejected by the Supreme Court . While refusing to entertain a VHA petition, the partial working day (PWD) bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta verbally said, "Hockey is an Olympic sport and under the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) regulations, there can be only one association from one state. " Hockey Maharashtra is one of the 28 permanent members of Hockey India, which also has a total of 32 associate and 55 academy members. The VHA was an affiliated unit of HI in 2013, but the membership was taken away in January 2020. VHA challenged HI's decision in the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court. As legal proceedings were ongoing, HI retained VHA as an associate member till 2024. With the HC upholding HI decision, VHA's membership with the HI was considered withdrawn effective from July 1, 2020. In the Supreme Court, VHA prayed that HI continue it as an associate-member. When justice Kant examined the matter further, VHA's counsel informed that the association was in fact an associate-member of HI for six years from 2013. In 2020 that membership was taken away citing one-state, one-unit rule. The counsel also claimed that Delhi had over 20 associate-members in HI. Akshay Mann, VHA counsel, also cited the rules applied to cricket, where Maharashtra has three associations — Vidarbha Cricket Association, Maharashtra Cricket Association, and Mumbai Cricket Association — affiliated to the national body, Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). He questioned the revocation of VHA's associate membership of HI. F rom the material placed on record, justice Datta noted that the petitioner was referring to the BCCI and Kabaddi Federation, which are not Olympic sports. According to the IOA regulations, the judge upheld the HI order in question, de-registering not only VHA but also Mumbai Hockey Association, as there can be only one association in Maharashtra. The judge orally grilled the VHA counsel as to what was the urgency to get the matter listed in partial court working days. "June 2024 order... you are filing SLP in May 2025... you are getting it listed in vacation... please tell us what is the urgency?" Before justice Kant dictated the order, justice Datta pointed to a specific page in the records, questioning if the petitioner had countered the aspect by filing an affidavit before the high court. When VHA counsel replied in negative, the judge said, "Then, that's the end of the matter... you should have explained before the high court, not before the Supreme Court for the first time." After hearing brief arguments, the SC bench allowed the petitioner to withdraw the case. Finally, the case was dismissed as withdrawn. Speaking to TOI VHA counsel Mann said, "This fight will continue. Clause 3.10 of the sports code says that there can be many types of membership without voting rights. There are still some valid and unresolved points which can be covered. We will reveal our strategy after discussions with VHA."
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
More than 1 in 10 older vets uses cannabis, study finds
More than 1 in 10 veterans ages 65 to 84 used cannabis in the previous month, a new analysis of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data published in JAMA Network Open suggests. To learn more about cannabis use in older adults, researchers turned to the Veterans Affairs Cannabis and Aging Study, which follows a national cohort of veterans and their cannabis use. The respondents' mean age was 73.3, and 85.4 percent of them were men.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A New Option for Treating High Blood Pressure is Available to United States Veterans
Ultrasound Renal Denervation, a Proven Treatment for High Blood Pressure, is Available to Veterans Thanks to a Partnership Between Recor Medical and Recon Supply ST. CHARLES, Mo., May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is known as the "silent killer" because many people do not know they have it and, over time, it can lead to serious health issues. In fact, hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. The 2020 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines on hypertension define uncontrolled hypertension as a reading above or equal to 130/90 mmHg.1 66% of veterans diagnosed with hypertension are considered uncontrolled by the VHA's guidelines.2 Hypertension treatment typically begins with a change in diet, like reducing salt intake, and physical exercise. For some, medication may also be prescribed. However, about one-third of the patients who are treated for hypertension remain uncontrolled despite making healthy lifestyle changes and taking more than three medications. For these patients, medical device-based hypertension therapies, like the Paradise™ Ultrasound Renal Denervation (uRDN) system, may be an additional treatment option. Army veteran Richard Van Name is one such patient who was looking for another way to treat his uncontrolled hypertension. An Army pilot for more than 30 years, Richard noticed his blood pressure was increasing during the later part of his service, and he was diagnosed with hypertension after retirement. Despite adjusting his lifestyle and taking progressively more medications, his blood pressure had not reached a normal level. That's when his physician recommended that he consider the Paradise uRDN treatment, a one-time, safe and minimally invasive procedure that is clinically proven to reduce blood pressure.3-6 "My blood pressure was starting to creep up in the last part of my career, but they were still within the limits for the military. When I was first diagnosed with hypertension, my blood pressure was 178 over 100. Diet and exercise did not bring it down any, and the medication brought it down to around the 150 to 160 region," said Richard. "My cardiologist was not satisfied that the maximum he had prescribed had not brought it down to where he thought was best. The doctor prescribed ultrasound renal denervation, and the procedure had definite results. My wife and I feel a lot better because it relieves us of the chances of heart attack or stroke." The Paradise uRDN system is a first-of-its-kind ultrasound-based RDN technology designed to lower blood pressure by denervating the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal arteries, reducing the overactivity that can lead to hypertension. The Paradise uRDN system delivers two to three doses of 360-degree ultrasound energy—lasting seven seconds each—through the main renal arteries to the surrounding nerves. The Paradise catheter features the exclusive HydroCooling™ system, which circulates sterile water through the balloon catheter during the procedure to help protect the renal artery wall. This minimally invasive procedure is supported by many medical societies including the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology and others. Recor Medical—the manufacturer of the Paradise System—has partnered with Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Recon Supply to support the distribution of the Paradise System through the VHA and Department of Defense. Recor has been focused on developing and testing uRDN for the treatment of hypertension since 2009, and completed three independently powered, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trials, all which demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the Paradise System, leading to FDA approval in late 2023. Recor has also initiated the US Global Paradise System (GPS) Post-Approval Study to collect real-world clinical evidence with long-term follow-up in 1,000 patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the United States. The Paradise uRDN system is indicated to reduce blood pressure as an adjunctive treatment in hypertension patients in whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. A physician will make a medical assessment to determine if a patient is a candidate for ultrasound renal denervation. The most common risks include pain, vascular access site complications and vasospasm. Full important risk information can be viewed here. Defense DoVAaDo. VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in the Primary Care Setting. 2020. Yamada et al. J Hypertens. 2023 Apr 17;41(6):995–1002. Azizi et al. JAMA. 2023;329(8):651-661. Azizi et al. Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2335-2345. Azizi et al. Lancet. 2021 Jun 26;397(10293):2476-2486. Kirtane et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(5):464-473. About Recon Supply Recon Supply is an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), demonstrating its commitment to serving the country both in and out of uniform. The company takes pride in its veteran-led team and its dedication to providing exceptional service to military and government clients. For more information on Recon Supply's offerings, visit or contact Recon Supply at 314-317-0300. About Recor Medical, Medical, headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd., is a medical technology company focused on transforming the management of hypertension. Recor has pioneered the use of the Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation system for the treatment of hypertension. The Paradise uRDN system is an investigational device in Japan, is FDA approved in the United States, and bears the CE mark. Recor has reported positive outcomes in three independent, randomized, sham-controlled studies of the Paradise uRDN system in patients with mild-to-moderate and resistant hypertension. In addition, Recor is conducting the Global Paradise System ("GPS") Registry in the European Union and the UK, and has initiated the US GPS post-approval study in the United States. Media Contact Katy ClarkEmail - Katy@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Recon Supply
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
EC organises training for grassroot poll officials
The Election Commission of India on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) began a two-day capacity-building training programme for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) from Bihar, and EROs and BLO supervisors from Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. As many as 369 grassroots election officials will be taking part in the mixed-batch training programme, according to an official statement by the EC. The training programme is part of the poll body's ongoing preparations for the coming Assembly polls in Bihar and other States, the statement said. Earlier this month, around 280 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from Bihar of 10 recognised political parties were also trained. The BLOs and EROs along with the BLAs are responsible for ensuring correct and updated electoral rolls and they are to function strictly as per the Representation of the People Act, Registration of Electors Rules 1960 and instructions issued by the EC from time to time, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said in his address at the training. Also Read | Indian election process acclaimed globally, says Election Commission The training is designed to enhance participants' practical understanding, especially in the areas of voter registration, form handling, and field-level implementation of electoral procedures. The curriculum includes interactive sessions, role plays simulating house-to-house surveys, case studies, and hands-on exercises for filling Forms 6, 6A, 7, and 8. Additionally, participants will receive practical training on the Voter Helpline App (VHA) and the BLO App. Sessions are being conducted by experienced National Level Master Trainers (NLMTs) and expert resource persons from the IT and EVM Divisions of the commission. The sessions are interactive and will address common field-level errors and how to avoid them. The officials will also be provided technical demonstrations and training of EVMs and VVPATs. The participants are also being familiarised with the provisions of first and second appeals against the final electoral rolls as published with the District Magistrate/District Collector/Executive Magistrate under Section 24(a) of the RP Act 1950 and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State/union territory under Section 24(b) respectively, a senior EC official said.
